How you can get uninterrupted connectivity as you travel across Europe

With the extensive rail system and open inter-state borders, it is convenient and easy to travel across multiple countries in the EU. If you are planning a trip to Europe and considering visiting many different countries, you are probably also on a look out for equally fuss-free ways to stay connected as you explore.

Local SIM cards that provide roaming coverage across EU

European telcos mostly have a roaming agreement which supports roaming across the EU countries. That essentially means that if you have a European line, it is highly likely that you will be able to continue using your European line in other countries, at no additional costs.

However, as a tourist, it is unlikely that you will have a European line. Instead, you might be considering getting a local prepaid SIM card upon arrival. If you are getting a prepaid SIM card from one of the major telcos, it is highly likely that the packages also include roaming across the EU countries.

The issue with getting a local SIM card is that it isn’t always easy to get one. Not all major airports in Europe have a telco booth that sell SIM cards — instead, you can pick one up at convenience stores or you might have to travel into town before you can get connected. If you are going to get a SIM card from one of the smaller providers or a MVNO at the convenience stores, it is important to also confirm if roaming is supported for the other countries that you are planning to visit.

It is also important that if you are planning to also travel to the UK, coverage might not always be included since UK is no longer part of the EU.

Europe Travel eSIMs as a convenient alternative

Getting a local European SIM card might be cheap, but it definitely isn’t the most convenient. And, if you can’t speak the local language at the destination you are traveling to, it could be rather unnerving trying to navigate the process of getting a local SIM card upon arrival.

And, on the opposite quadrant of the affordability and convenience spectrum is international roaming. International roaming is convenient - you pretty much don’t have to do anything to get connected. But, it is also expensive.

This is where eSIMs come into play, providing an option that is a good balance between convenience and cost.

Travel eSIMs can be purchased online even before you arrive at your destination, so you will not need to worry about not being able to find a suitable plan for your trip. You can install your eSIM upon purchase and have the plan activated upon arrival at your destination, further saving you the hassle of having to switch out your SIM cards.

Most providers of travel eSIMs will offer a regional eSIM that provides coverage in most countries across Europe. The plans and coverage are fairly similar, so you might want to do some research and compare which provider offers the best eSIM plans for Europe.

With a regional eSIM for Europe, you will not need to worry about having to switch SIM cards when you travel across the different countries — as long as the eSIM that you have purchased offers coverage in the countries that you will be traveling into.

Get a Nomad Travel eSIM for Europe for your summer travels

Nomad has a number of plans available for eSIMs, providing coverage in 35+ countries in the region.

As you embark on your summer travels this year, Nomad is offering eSIMs for Europe at a very attractive price. You can enjoy 20GB of data for $22 USD for 30 days - essentially meaning you are paying just $1.10 per GB!

For an average traveler, it is safe to estimate a data consumption of 1GB per day. So, if you are planning for a two-week trip to Europe, 20GB of data should be more than sufficient for your use! But, not to worry even if you are someone who uses a lot of data!

In the event where you realise that you are running out of data, you can simply purchase an add-on from the Nomad web store or Nomad app. The add-on plan will be automatically activated when your base plan runs out of data, so you wouldn’t have to worry about having to install a new eSIM or face any interruptions in your connectivity!